Sam had attempted to engage Quinn in conversation a handful of times, but herck of response led him to believe she was not in the mood for chatter. Thus, he decided to let the matter rest.


    Their journey continued in silence until they reached their destination, a ce known as Regal Riverside. Sam helped Quinn out of the vehicle, a sense of familiarity washing over him. "Isn''t this your residence?" he asked, a memory resurfacing. "I believe I''ve seen you here before."


    His first encounter with her had been a distressing sight. She was sprawled in the middle of the road, her sobs echoing in the stillness.


    He didn''t know the cause of her anguish, but her tears had stirred something within him.Compelled by an inexplicable urge, he had approached her, offering his assistance.


    As she raised her tear-streaked face to meet his gaze, her eyes left an indelible imprint on his heart, one that he found impossible to erase.Quinn simply nodded in response, expressing her gratitude.Sam, ever the gentleman, exited the van and opened the door for her. "Be careful," he warned, "the van is quite high."He extended his hand to steady her as she descended.


    No sooner had Quinn''s feet touched the ground than another vehicle pulled up,ing to a smooth stop behind the van. The sight of the car sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through Quinn''s veins, leaving her limbs tingling with a strange numbness.


    The car''s engine died down, and out stepped Kyle Astor, who promptly moved to open the passenger door. Nearby, Mason watched intently as a figure emerged from the vehicle.Alexander stepped out, his gaze sweeping past both men with an unreadable expresison.


    He adjusted the cor of his ck trench coat and slowly advanced towards Quinn.Mason greeted him, "Alexander, I''ve brought your sister back."


    Alexander''s gaze shifted from Mason to Quinn, "Did she tell you that?"Mason was momentarily taken aback, struggling toprehend the implications of Alexander''s words. Without warning, Alexander pulled Quinn into his arms, his hand circling her waist.


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    He turned to Mason, "Thank you for bringing my sister home, Mr. Mason."His tone was neutral, but the word ''sister'' hung heavily in the air.Something about the way he emphasized the word, or perhaps his hand on Quinn''s waist, struck Mason as odd. He didn''t dwell on it, though, instead bidding Alexander farewell, "Goodbye, Alexander."


    With that, Mason climbed into his car and drove off. Alexander watched the retreating vehicle before turning his attention back to Quinn.


    Quinn''s lips were pressed into a thin line.


    She attempted to extricate herself from his grip, but his hold on her waist was unyielding.Alexander pulled her closer, causing her to stumble against his chest. He looked down at her, his voice barely above a whisper, "Did you have fun, sis?"The final word was like a needle, piercing Quinn''s ears with its sharpness.


    Quinn averted her gaze, not needing to see his face to know the contempt and coldness it held.Alexander''s fingers grazed her cheek, slowly moving to her forehead.Suddenly, a jolt of pain coursed through her. Quinn''s head jerked up just in time to see him tear off the bandage on her forehead, examine it, and nonchntly discard it.


    He then proceeded to straighten her hair, which had been disheveled in her struggle with the Husky, leaving her dirty and unkempt.His touch was gentle, his movements tender, but Quinn detected no warmth in them.


    It reminded her of the times she would overeat to numb her sadness-not out of hunger or desire, but as a form of release. His actions now bore the same detached quality.A gust of wind, carrying with it a fine mist of rain, made Quinn shiver."You''ve managed to get yourself all dirty," he remarked, before leading her into the house and down the hall to the bathroom. Quinn''s steps were hesitant, almost stumbling, as she followed him inside. The sight of the bathroom seemed to ignite a primal resistance within her.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.